Dorn, Edward (Olson, Charles)

What I See in the Maximus Poems

Ventura, CA: Migrant, 1960. First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. "But when the Place is brought forward fully in form conceived entirely by the activation of a man who is under its spell it is a resurrection for us and the investigation even is not extractable. And it is then the only real thing. I am certain, without ever having been there, I would be bored to sickness walking through Gloucester. Buildings as such are not important. The wash of the sea is not interesting in itself, that is luxuria, a degrading thing, people as they stand, must be created, it doesn't matter at all they have reflexes of their own, they are casual, they do more than you could hope to know, it is useful, it is a part of industry. It has an arrogance of intention. This is the significance of (Charles) Olson's distrust of Thucydides and his care for Herodotus." (from pgs. 7, 8) A critical essay by Edward Dorn (1929-1999), among the greatest of the Black Mountain School poets along with his colleagues/mentors Robert Creeley, Robert Duncan & most of all Charles Olson (1910-1970), the Great Black Mountain-&-Beyond Poet's-Poet who is our favorite Maximus Obscurantist. The subject of Dorn's essay is the cycle of "Maximus" poems which had just been first collected & published (further parts of Olson's Ma(ximus)gnum Opus would appear during & after his lifetime, along with reams of book-length Talmudic scholarship...). Larger-format booklet in stapled wrappers, a quintessential Mimeograph Revolutionary production which we believe to be Dorn's first sole publication under his name. From the collection of Albert Glover (1942-2026), the esteemed American poet, editor, publisher & academician who was the foremost remaining authority on Olson. Glover was a student of & anointed by the Maximus Master himself at SUNY Buffalo during the 1960s, & had ever since served outstandingly to bear the Olsonian Torch as bibliographer, editor & publisher. We have just been informed of Glover's passing during February of 2026, & extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. An extremely scarce, most-highly significant Dorn collectible in its singularly rarest contemporary form; with early, profound insight into Olson's most challenging, exemplary work by one of his key Black Mountain Protégés & with the utmost-distinguished, relevant provenance & association. In relatively near-fine condition with mild-to-moderate rubbing, fading, spot-staining & faint scratching to front, back covers & stapled spine; light wear & some tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners of same; one mild crease across mid-length of front cover, decreasingly echoed at first few page leaves; moderate rubbing, age-toning & occasional spotting to edges of text block. Interior near-fine-to-fine with slight age-toning, fading & staining to blank inner covers; slight age-toning to page leaves chiefly at blank margins/edges; staining from blank side-edge of one leaf (pg. 9, all leaves printed on recto only); tiny bumps, faint creases at esp. upper corners of some leaves. Near Fine. [Item #8765]

Price: $225.00